Tamil Nadu to appoint senior professors as interim vice-chancellors

Tamil Nadu's Higher Education Minister announced plans to deploy senior professors as interim administrators for 11 state universities that lack permanent vice-chancellors. The decision comes as convenor committees at 13 state universities seek to stabilize institutional governance during the leadership transitions.

Under the new arrangement, the syndicates of each affected university will nominate a panel of senior professors, from which one will be selected to serve as acting vice-chancellor. These interim administrators will be granted the necessary powers to oversee day-to-day operations and academic functions.

The measure is designed to address operational gaps created by vacant vice-chancellor positions and ensure that universities continue to function effectively while permanent leadership appointments are finalized. The senior professors selected for these roles will provide continuity in decision-making and institutional management.

This interim structure allows the convenor committees to maintain administrative momentum across the state's higher education sector while recruitment and selection processes for permanent vice-chancellors proceed through normal channels. The appointments are expected to provide stability to academic calendars, examinations, and other critical university functions.